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Chapter 47: Lindsay’s Behavior
Ainsley stood tall, her mind set on what lay ahead. Despite the tension building inside her, she knew she had to face this. As she reached the door of the principal’s office, she ran into Serina, who stormed towards her, a deep frown etched on her face.
“Aisy!” Serina’s voice was sharp with anger. “Did you see the forum? It’s likely Kaitlin’s behind this! She’s the only one who would go so far to target you.”
Ainsley couldn’t help but smile faintly at Serina’s protective tone, but she knew there was more to this than just Kaitlin. Still, she didn’t want to add more worry to Serina’s plate.
“Don’t worry,” Ainsley said softly, reaching out to pat Serina’s back in an attempt to calm her. “We’ll handle it. You should get to class. I’ve got a plan.”
Serina was still visibly uneasy, but she hesitated only a moment before nodding. “Aisy, I’ll go to class, but if anything happens, you have to tell me immediately.”
Ainsley gave her a reassuring wave, holding up her phone to signal that everything was under control. Serina glanced back at her three times as she walked away, but eventually disappeared into the hallway.
Ainsley let out a sigh, feeling a bit helpless. While Manuel had asked her to help Serina with her psychological struggles, Ainsley sometimes felt like Serina was helping her in return. They had become a healing presence in each other’s lives.
The principal’s office building wasn’t far, and Ainsley made her way there in less than five minutes. She arrived at the door, took a steadying breath, and knocked.
Raymond’s deep voice echoed through the door. “Come in.”
Ainsley entered and was immediately struck by the sight of a group of school leaders gathered around a large conference table. Cody was there, and so was Lindsay. Lindsay sat at the left side of Raymond, her posture rigid and imposing. The moment Lindsay saw Ainsley, she let out an exaggerated snort, rolling her eyes so far it seemed like they might disappear into the back of her head.
Ainsley couldn’t help but frown slightly at the display. She knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary meeting. It felt more like a trial.
Raymond glanced at Lindsay, then at Ainsley, before speaking with authority. “Ms. Easton, I’m sure you understand why I’ve called you here today. Mrs. Baldry came to the university to demand an explanation.”
Ainsley’s gaze never wavered as she turned her attention to Lindsay. Her eyes locked with the older woman’s, and a cold, mocking edge crept into her expression.
Lindsay, for the first time, felt the sharpness of Ainsley’s look and something inside her shifted. Ainsley had always been respectful to her, even when she was married to Cason. But now, the woman who had once been so obedient was standing before her with an icy stare that made her feel exposed. It rattled Lindsay more than she cared to admit.
Ainsley finally spoke, her tone measured and biting. “Mrs. Baldry, perhaps you should be more polite. This isn’t the Baldry family’s territory. You’d do well to keep that… shrewdness of yours in check.”
The room fell silent, and several of the faculty members exchanged uncomfortable glances. Lindsay’s face twisted in disbelief at Ainsley’s audacity. This wasn’t the same Ainsley she had known—the one who had silently borne the weight of her marriage to Cason. Now, this woman was standing tall, and Lindsay could hardly contain her fury.
“What are you looking at me for?” Lindsay spat, her voice thick with contempt. “You’re a cheater, and yet you still have the nerve to glare at me?”
Her words hung in the air, sharp and cruel. The cultured professors in the room frowned, unable to mask their discomfort. They all knew the photo circulating online wasn’t proof of anything, and yet Lindsay’s influence loomed large over the university.
Ainsley met Lindsay’s scathing gaze with a cool, indifferent expression. “You’re really quite bold, Mrs. Baldry. But you should remember that respect is earned, not demanded. Perhaps if you weren’t so quick to show your true face, others would take you more seriously.”
Lindsay’s cheeks flushed with anger, her hand tightening into a fist on the table. She was stunned by Ainsley’s response. This wasn’t the obedient, demure woman she’d once looked down on. Ainsley had finally broken free—and Lindsay hated it. The thought that her son’s ex-wife, the woman she had always considered beneath her, had the audacity to speak to her this way enraged her beyond measure.
For a moment, the room was thick with tension, the quiet hum of discomfort hanging between the school leaders. Some of them exchanged glances, clearly sympathetic to Ainsley, but none of them dared speak up in the face of Lindsay’s power.
Raymond, trying to diffuse the situation, glanced between the two women, his voice low. “Let’s remain civil, please. Mrs. Baldry, I understand your concerns, but we must proceed with the proper process. Ainsley, I trust you’ll cooperate with us.”
Ainsley’s gaze remained locked on Lindsay’s, but she nodded slightly at Raymond, acknowledging his request to deescalate. “I will cooperate, Mr. Ford. But it seems clear that this meeting isn’t about facts—it’s about power. I’m not afraid of Mrs. Baldry’s influence, and I won’t let her use it to destroy my life.”
Lindsay opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Raymond raised a hand, signaling for her to hold her tongue. He turned back to Ainsley, his expression serious. “We’ll proceed with the necessary investigation. Mrs. Baldry, if you have any further evidence, please provide it to the committee.”
The confrontation wasn’t over, but the balance of power had shifted slightly. Ainsley wasn’t backing down, and for the first time, Lindsay could see that Ainsley’s resolve was as strong as the storm she had weathered in her marriage.
